It’s Tuesday, I know…sorry for the mislead! It is two days before Thanksgiving and I am sitting in my office (not listening to Christmas music because it isn’t Black Friday yet!), knowing without a shadow of a doubt that God is going to help me get all that is on my list accomplished, but not seeing how. I am sure you have been there! It seems like I have always had a to-do list. I can remember my mom encouraging me back when I was in school to look at the top thing only, and accomplish that, before looking at the next task, but I blew it this morning and looked at the whole thing. Yikes!!

But my mom also taught me the value of saying, “No” when it was appropriate, and that is why I am writing this Minute on a Tuesday morning. Thursday is Thanksgiving Day and Advent begins on Sunday. It is a busy, busy time for church leadership - especially those who are involved in the Music & Worship Ministry. Church, work, family and personal time all tend to entangle themselves together at this time of year and it can get hectic. When that happens, my stress level goes up and sometimes my desire to live a life of worship gets tossed into the backseat as I “kick it into high gear” so I can “get it all done.” I can cut God completely out of the picture, which is CRAZY because He is the reason we are celebrating in the first place! I don’t want to be that person again this year, so I am trimming things a bit here and there to free up more time and shorten my list. And I am checking myself often, asking God if this is something He wants me to be doing, or if I should let it go. Can I please encourage you to do the same? I can’t be the only one who cycles through this same behavior pattern every year at this time! 

I wish each one of you a very happy Thanksgiving, and I pray that you will be able to spend time with loved ones enjoying their company, and lots of good food, of course! I also pray that your Advent will be blessed with many, many peaceful moments when you can reflect on the coming of our Savior and all that it means to you, and to every person in this world. I pray that the Hope, the Love, the Joy and the Peace of the season will flood your hearts and your minds as you put Jesus in the center of every celebration. And I hope I see each of you every Sunday as we sing the songs of Advent together and celebrate our King together as church family.  

Happy Thanksgiving, a blessed Advent, and Merry Christmas to you all!

Careen